2 euro
coins (€2 or 2€) are made of two alloys: the inner part of nickel brass, the outer part of copper-nickel. All coins have a common reverse side and
country-specific national sides. The coin has been used since 2002,
with the present common side design dating from 2007.

The €2 euro coin is the coin subject to legal-tender[1]commemorative issues and hence
there is a large number of national sides, including two issues of
identical commemorative sides by all eurozone members.

Contents

History

The coin dates from 2002, when euro coins and banknotes were introduced in the 12
member eurozone and its related territories. The
common side was designed by Luc Luycx, a Belgian artist who won a Europe-wide
competition to design the new coins. The designs of the one and
two-euro coins were intended to show the European Union (EU) as a whole with the
then 15 countries more closely joined together than on the 10 to
50-cent coins (the 1-cent to 5-cent coins showed the EU as one,
though intending to show its place in the world).

The national sides, then 15 (eurozone + Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican who could mint their own) were
each designed according to national competitions, though to
specifications which applied to all coins such as the requirement
of including twelve stars (see euro coins for more). National designs were
not allowed to change until the end of 2008, unless a monarch
(whose portrait usually appears on the coins) dies or abdicates.
This happened in Monaco and the Vatican City resulting in three new
designs in circulation (the Vatican had an interim design until the
new Pope was selected). National
designs have seen some changes due to new rule stating that
national designs should include the name of the issuing country
(Finland and Belgium both do not show their name, and hence have
made minor changes).

In 2004 the commemorative coins were allowed to be minted in six
states (a short interim period was set aside so citizens could get
used to the new currency). By 2007 nearly all states had issued a
commemorative issue and the first eurozone-wide commemorative was
issued to celebrate the Treaty of Rome (see commemorative
issued below).

As the EU's membership has
since expanded in 2004 and
2007, with further expansions envisaged, the common face of all
euro coins from the value of 10 cent and above were redesigned in
2007 to show a new map. This map showed Europe, not just the EU, as
one continuous landmass, however Cyprus was moved west as the map cut off after
the Bosphorus (which was
seen as excluding Turkey for
political reasons). The redesign in 2007, rather than in 2004, was
due to the fact that 2007 saw the first enlargement of the eurozone; the entry of Slovenia. Hence, the
Slovenian design was added to the designs in circulation.

Cyprus and Malta joined in 2008 and Slovakia in 2009 bringing three more designs.
Also in 2009, the second eurozone-wide issue of a 2-euro
commemorative coin was issued, celebrating ten years of the
euro.

Design

The coins are composed of two alloys. The inner circle is
composed of three layers (nickel brass, nickel, nickel brass) and
the outer ring of copper-nickel giving them a two colour (silver
outer and gold inner) appearance. The diameter of the coins are
25.75 mm, a 2.20 mm thickness and a mass of 8.5 grams.
The coins' edges are finely milled with lettering, though the exact
design of the edge can vary between states with some choosing to
write the issuing states name or denomination around the edge (see
"edges" below). The coins have been used from 2002, though some are
dated 1999 which is the year the euro was created as a currency, but not put into
general circulation.

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Obverse (common) side

Common side of all €2 coins minted before 2007

The obverse (used from 2007 onwards) was designed by Luc Luycx
and displays a map of Europe, not including Iceland and cutting off, in a semicircle, at the
Bosporus, north through the middle of Ukraine and Belarus and through northern Scandinavia. Cyprus is
located further west than it should be and Malta is shown
disproportionally large so it appears on the map. The map has
numerous indentations giving an appearance of geography rather than
a flat design. Six fine lines cut across the map except where there
is landmass and have a star at each end - reflecting the twelve
stars on the flag
of Europe. Across the map is the word EURO, and a large number
2 appears to the left hand side of the coin. The designers
initials, LL, appear next to Cyprus.

Luc Luycx designed the original coin, which was much the same
except the design was only of the then 15 members in their entirety
and showing border and no geographic features. The map was less
detailed and the lines the stars were upon cut through where there
would be landmass in eastern Europe if it were shown.

Reverse (national)
sides

The reverse side of the coin depends on the issuing country. All
have to include twelve stars (in most cases a circle around the
edge), the engravers initials and the year of issue. New designs
also have to include the name or initials of the issuing country.
The side cannot repeat the denomination of the coin unless the
issuing country uses an alphabet other than Latin (currently,
Greece and Austria are the only such countries, hence they
engrave "2 EYPΩ" and "2 EURO" upon their coins respectively).

Description

Image

Austria:
The Austrian design features Bertha von
Suttner, a radical Austrian pacifist and Nobel Peace
Prize winner, as a symbol of Austria's efforts to support
peace. The Austrian flag is hatched below the denomination (which
is against the new rules for national designs and hence will be
changed at some point) on the right hand side. The year appears on
the left hand side.

Belgium:
The Belgian design was chosen by a panel
of leading Belgian officials, artisans and experts in numismatics.
They chose an effigy of King
Albert II designed by Jan Alfons Keustermans, Director of the
Municipal Academy of Fine Arts of Turnhout. To the right hand side among the
stars was the kings monogram, a letter "A", underneath a crown.
The year was lower down, also among the stars. The 2008 redesign
included the letters BE (standing for Belgium) beneath the
monogram, which was moved out of the stars into the centre circle
but still to the right of the King's portrait. The date was also
moved out and placed beneath the effigy and included two symbols
either side (left: signature mark of the master of the mint, right:
mint mark).

1st Series (2002–2007)

2nd Series (2008–)

Cyprus:
The Cypriot design features the Idol of Pomos, a prehistoricsculpture dating from the
30th century BC, as an example of the islands historic civilisation
and art. It was chosen in a public vote and the exact design was
created by Erik Maell and Tatiana Soteropoulos. It includes the
name of Cyprus in Greek and Turkish (ΚΥΠΡΟΣ and KIBRIS) each side
of the idol. It has been used since Cyprus adopted the euro in
2008.

Finland:
The Finnish design depicts fruit and
leaves of the cloudberry, with the date visible at the
bottom above the stars. It was designed by Raimo Heino. The first series included the
initial of the mint master of the Mint of Finland, Raimo Makkonen
(an M), to the bottom right. When the coins were redesign to meet
the new design requirements, the initial was replaced by the mint's
mint mark and moved the to the left, with the letters FI (for
Finland) sitting in the bottom right.

1st Series (2002–2006)

2nd Series (2007–)

France:
The French
design by Joaquim Jimenez depicts a stylised tree (which
symbolises life, continuity and growth) upon a hexagon (l'hexagone is often used to
refer to France due to is broadly hexagonal shape). The letters RF,
standing for République française (French Republic), stand each
side of the trunk of the tree. Around the edge, but inside the
circle of stars, is the motto of France: “Liberté, égalité,
fraternité”. The stars themselves are stylised, linked together
by a pattern of lines. The date is located towards the bottom
between the stars and the mint marks are located at the top.

Germany:
The German
design depicts the German coat of arms (the German
eagle) which symbolises German sovereignty. The date appears at the
base of the eagle and the gold behind the stars is etched to give
visual effect. It was designed by Heinz and Sneschana
Russewa-Hoyer.

Malta:
The Maltese design is dominated by the
Maltese Cross (the emblem of the Sovereign Order of Malta: 1520–1798, now a
national symbol), with the background of a darker hatched texture.
The word MALTA is shown with each letter appearing in a segment
across the top half of the coin to the edge of the inner circle.
The date is shown at the base of the inner circle. The cross was
most popular in a public vote and was designed by Noel Galea Bason,
the final design once more was most popular of all other proposals
and hence was used for the one euro coin. It has been used since
Malta switched to the euro in 2008.

Monaco:
The first Monegasque design contained an
effigy of Prince Rainier III with
the name MONACO was written across the top of the coin's outer
circle and the year across the bottom of the outer circle with the
mint marks. Upon the death of Prince Rainier III in 2005, and the
accession of Prince Albert II Prince
Rainier's effigy was replaced with that of Prince Albert's and the
name Monaco and the year were brought within the inner circle.

1st Series (2002–2005)

2nd Series (206-)

Netherlands:
The Dutch
design displays a stylised profile of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
over the left half of the coin, with the right hand side containing
the words "Beatrix Koningin der Nederlanden" (“Beatrix Queen of The
Netherlands” in Dutch) written vertically on three lines and the
year written horizontally to the lower right. This design was taken
from the former Dutch guilder. The mint marks are located
on the bottom of the outer ring and the twelve stars are compressed
onto the left side of the coin only, rather than forming a full
circle.

Portugal:
The Portuguese design shows the royal
seal of 1144 surrounded by the country's castles and five escutcheona with silver bezants set in relation to the
surrounding European stars which is supposed to symbolise dialogue,
exchange of values and dynamics in the building of Europe. Between
the castles is the numbers of the year towards the bottom and the
letters of the name Portugal between the upper icons. The stars are
inset on a ridge.

Slovakia:
The Slovak
design came into use in 2009, when Slovakia adopted the euro.
It features the Coat of arms of Slovakia, a
double cross on three hills extending across the lower three stars.
The background is a relief of rocks, representing the stability and
strength of Slovakia. "SLOVENSKO" (Slovakia) is written to the
right of the emblem and the date to the lower left. The design was
chosen by a public competition and vote in 2005, with Ivan Řehák
creating this winning design. His initials appear under the right
branch of the cross, and the mint mark under the left branch.

Slovenia:
The Slovenian design is a silhouette
of France
Prešeren, a Sloveneromantic poet from the
19th century who inspired much of Slovene literature that followed
him. Below his silhouette are the words, in stylised writing,
“Shivé naj vsi naródi” meaning "God’s blessing on all nations".
This is from the first line of the Slovenian national anthem, which
is the 7th stanza of Zdravljica, a poem by France Prešeren.
To the bottom left, tracing the curve of the outer circle is
Prešeren's name and similarly on the right hand side, divided by a
star per letter, is the name SLOVENIJA (Slovenia). The year and
mint marks are also placed within the stars. The design came into
use in 2007 when Slovenia adopted the euro and it was designed by
Miljenko Licul, Maja Licul and Janez Boljka.

Spain:
The Spanish design has an effigy of King
Juan Carlos I designed by Luis José Díaz. To his left on a
curved raised area is the name "España" (Spain) and four stars on
the right hand size are on a raise area in the same manner. The
mint mark is located beneath España and the date on the lower
portion between the stars.

1st Series (1999–2009)

2nd Series (2010-)

Vatican
City:
The Vatican design has changed two
times. The first displayed an effigy of Pope John Paul
II. The name CITTA DEL VATICANO (Vatican City),
followed by the year and mint mark, was written in a break between
the stars below. Following the death of John Paul II in 2005, a new
coin was issued during the Sede vacante until a new Pope was chosen.
This contained the insignia of the Apostolic Chamber and the coat of arms
of the Cardinal
Chamberlain. When Pope Benedict XVI was elected, his
effigy appeared on the coins, with the name of the city now broken
to his top right with the year and mint mark in the middle to his
right.

1st Series (2002–2005)

2nd Series (2005–2006)

3rd Series (2006–)

Edges

The edges of the 2 euro coin vary according to the issuing
state;

Standard €2 edge inscriptions by
country

Country

Edge inscription

Description

Austria

The sequence "2 EURO ★★★" repeated four times alternately
upright and inverted.

Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain

The sequence "2 ★ ★" repeated six times alternately upright and
inverted.

Planned
designs

Austria, Germany and Greece will also at some point need to
update their designs to comply with guidelines stating they must
include the issuing state's name or initial, and not repeat the
denomination of the coin.

In addition, there are several EU states that have not yet
adopted the euro, some of them have already agreed upon their coin
designs however it is not know exactly when they will adopt the
currency, and hence these are not yet minted. See enlargement
of the Eurozone for expected entry dates of these
countries.

Commemorative issues

Each state allowed to issue coins may also mint one commemorative
coin each year. Only €2 coins may be used in this way (for them
to be legal tender) and there is a limit on the number that can be
issued. The coin must show the normal design criteria, such as the
twelve stars, the year and the issuing country. Not all states have
issued their own commemorative coins except for in 2007 and 2009
when every then-eurozone state issued a common coin (with only
different languages and country names used) to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the Treaty of Rome (1957-2007) and the
10th anniversary of the euro (1999-2009). Eurozone-wide issues do
not count as a state's one-a-year issue. Germany has begin issuing
one coin a year for each of its states (the German Bundesländer series which
will take it up to 2021.

Similar
coins

The coins were minted in several of the participating countries,
many using blanks produced at Birmingham Mint, Birmingham, England. A problem has arisen in
differentiation of coins made using similar blanks and minting
techniques. The Turkish 1 Lira coin resembles very much
the €1 coin in both weight and size, and both coins seem to be
recognised and accepted by slot machines as being a €1 coin, which
is roughly worth 4 times more. However there are now vending
machines which have been upgraded to refuse the 1 lira coin.
Similarly the 10
Thai baht coin, first minted in 1988, which is of similar shape
and size to a €2 coin but worth around 10 times less has recently
been appearing in the coin boxes of vending machines throughout
Europe[2] and
being given back as change in some smaller establishments. The new
50 qəpik coin of the Azerbaijani manat also seems like a
€2 coin. (The new coin set of the country contains coins seems like
some euro coins.) The Philippine 10 peso coin is also similar to the 2
Euro coin making it easy to pass for a Euro in some establishments
in the EU.